by Rees Palermo
As I sit here on this dreary, rainy New Year’s Day morning, I ponder: what the conditions will be like at the Sugar Bowl races, January 10-11? Actually, the weather report looks great! It should be clear and cold. And, we may have a few days of snow between now and then with a sunny day just before that weekend.

One of the questions racers often ask is what happens if they don't finish their first run. The good news is that Masters racing has a provision that may let you take a second run anyway.

Starting in 2026 we are hosting regular Happy Hour Mixers at local venues offering food and drink specials and that are open to everyone.

If you’ve been thinking about getting into masters racing, want to learn more about local training opportunities or just curious about what masters is all about, come meet fellow racers, coaches and fans and let us answer any questions you might have.

by Melissa House
Waiting for the season to start gave me time to look back through my training notes. I've kept notes on my racing off and on for years, but last season I wrote down what I worked on almost every training day. Reading through them reminded me of things that clicked, like finally understanding level shoulders because of a drill Coach Steve did with bamboo poles, and the afternoon slalom sessions that helped me start to really feel my line and body position.

One of the biggest challenges many of our members have expressed is the lack of flexible, drop-in training opportunities - whether due to the cost of full season programs or just navigating difficulties in their work and family schedules to commit for the whole year. We are excited to say that several local programs heard you and are now offering sessions to fit your schedule, budget and objectives. Drop-ins are a great for trying a new program, getting insight from different coaches and getting to know fellow racers that maybe you only see occasionally at races during the season. Come out and sharpen your skills, get gate time in, and stay connected with the Masters community.

We're trying something new and fun—a caption contest!

The photo below captures Coach Steve Lehr dispensing wisdom (or perhaps demonstrating the finer points of dramatic hand gestures?) at the top of a training course. What do you think he's saying? What sage advice is being shared? What critical tactical insight is being imparted amid the snow-laden trees?

FWM Scholarship athlete Dylan Schemenauer wins Race Place Catalog Cover Contest, and an email update from Scholarship recipient Max Cooper.

Looking for a fun, low-key way to get some gates in this spring? Palisades Tahoe is running their Town Race League series on Tuesday afternoons from March through April—a chance to race timed GS gates down Julia's Gold off the Exhibition chair.

Looking to add more race days to your calendar? Open League, a member of the Bay Area Snow Sports Council and Far West Skiing Association, offers recreational races for adult skiers in the North Lake Tahoe area throughout the season.

Far West Masters scholarship athlete Kash Vankirk took on the Birds of Prey course at Beaver Creek on Thursday, forerunning the Men's World Cup Downhill, and capturing the experience on a POV camera for all of us to see.

We may not have much snow on the ground yet, but we're still expecting a great season ahead. As we look forward to getting back on the hill, I wanted to remind everyone that we now have Far West Masters gear with our logo on it. There is huge value to wearing Far West Masters gear when you're on the mountain, whether you're racing or just getting in some training runs.

By Rees Palermo

Welcome to the 2026 ski season filled with memories yet to be.

As I enter my 45th consecutive season of Masters racing, I have to ask myself why I do it? This seems to be the same question. I have asked myself for about 44 years now. With only two years interrupted by  injury, I consider myself lucky, and I consider ski racing a part of my life that is irreplaceable.  It is motivational.  Perhaps you can relate?

If you stop completely in GS, Super G, or Downhill, your run is over. In slalom, you can continue if you don't interfere with the next racer. If you miss a gate in slalom, climb back to pass it correctly—unless that would interfere with the next competitor. If something blocks your racing line or interferes with your run, stop immediately, ski out, and request a provisional rerun from a race official. Don’t turn up at the start claiming you were interfered with during your run without first reporting to an official on course.

If you're new to Masters racing, you might be wondering what equipment you need to get started. The good news? Masters racers have far more flexibility in their equipment choices than World Cup athletes, but that freedom can also make decisions feel overwhelming.

Keep all equipment (packs, skis, and personal gear) behind the fences and away from the racecourse. When watching the course, position yourself well back from the course rather than right next to it. If you see something unsafe, alert race officials or course workers immediately.

Through small changes in our behavior, we can provide a cleaner, safer field of play for Masters athletes.

By Melissa House

Last week, SkiRacing magazine posted an article called "Good Skiing vs. Fast Skiing." The premise is simple: good skiing and fast skiing aren't always the same thing. Sometimes the cleanest, most technically correct approach isn't the fastest one.

This isn't a new idea. I've heard versions of this from Coach Mark Mirviss at Palisades and coaches at other programs (shout out to the Tahoe Donner Masters program) for a while now, but something about reading it last week made it click differently. The idea fits with what I’ve been remembering about my final training day last season.

We are thrilled to announce this year's Far West Masters Scholarship Program recipients! Since 1992, our program has supported deserving junior alpine skiers through a combination of academic excellence, citizenship, leadership, and financial need. Thanks to the generous contributions of Masters racers, families, and supporters, 100% of donations go directly to these talented young athletes.